Europe’s top court has upheld the largest penalty the European Commission has ever imposed on Google – a €4.1bn (£3.5bn) fine for using its Android mobile operating system to block rivals. The ruling, delivered on 2 July 2026, dismisses an appeal by the tech giant against the original fine, which was handed down in 2018 at €4.3bn (then £3.9bn) before being trimmed to €4.1bn in 2022.
The case centred on three allegations: that Google required Android handset and tablet makers to pre-install its Search app and Chrome browser as a condition for offering access to its Play app store; that it paid large manufacturers and mobile network operators to exclusively pre-install Google Search; and that it prevented makers from selling devices powered by alternative “forked” versions of Android, threatening to refuse them permission to pre-install its apps. The commission acknowledged that Google’s version of Android does not prevent users from downloading alternative browsers or search engines.
“Europe's top court upholds record €4.1bn fine against Google for using Android to stifle competition.”
A Google spokesperson said the judgement “fails to recognise” the company’s “significant investment to ensure Android remains open, interoperable and free”. They added: “In any event, we adapted our agreements to comply with the initial decision back in 2018 and we remain focused on continued innovation and openness for our users, partners and developers.” At the time of the original fine, Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai wrote that the decision “rejects the business model that supports Android, which has created more choice for everyone, not less.”
The penalty is not the first Google has faced from Brussels. In September 2024, the commission fined Google €2.4bn (£2bn) for abusing the market dominance of its shopping-comparison service. Then in September 2025, it imposed a €2.95bn (£2.5bn) fine for favouring its own products in online ad display, to the detriment of rivals.
Nor is the €4.1bn fine the largest ever imposed on Google. In October 2024, a Russian court charged the firm for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube – a fine of two undecillion roubles, more than the world’s total GDP.